MSU President Mark Keenum serves food to Starkville Fire Chief Rodger Mann at the Lampkin Street Fire Station last week. The university provided a Christmas luncheon for Starkville Fire Department personnel in appreciation of their commitment and hard work throughout the year. PHOTO: Beth Newman | University Relations

Energy conservation plan for break begins TuesdayMississippi State University will implement its winter break energy plan at the end of the day this Tuesday. Over the past few years, MSU faculty, staff and students working together have reduced the university's energy consumption by 33%, avoiding utility costs of approximately $16 million.

Campus Appreciation Day at Barnes & Noble setWednesday is Campus Appreciation Day at Barnes & Noble at Mississippi State from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. MSU faculty and staff who present their valid university ID will receive an extra 10% off of their existing faculty/staff discount for in-store purchases.

Holiday hours set for pharmacyWith the winter holidays approaching, the staff at the Longest Student Health
Center would like to remind Mississippi State faculty and staff to have any prescriptions filled that may be needed during the upcoming break.

Library hours for interim sessionAs the fall semester at Mississippi State University nears a close, Mitchell Memorial Library has released its hours of operation for the interim session.

Diversity Award nomination period opensThe President's Commission on the Status of Minorities is accepting nominations for the 2012 MSU Diversity Awards. The annual awards program is designed to recognize individuals and teams of individuals who have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity at Mississippi State University.

Registration open for early-2012 PERS workshopHuman Resources Management at Mississippi State is sponsoring a Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) workshop on Feb. 29, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Bost Extension Center on the Starkville campus. The workshop is free for university employees, but pre-registration is required.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 12/19/11Women's Basketball hosts Louisiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m. on Monday... Men's Basketball travels to Jackson for a 7 p.m. tipoff against Northwestern State in the Mississippi Coliseum on Thursday.

14 graduate from staff development programFourteen Mississippi State University staff members graduated from the 2011 Learning Experience for Aspiring Professionals program Dec. 8. Jerry Gilbert, provost and executive vice president, delivered the welcome at the graduation celebration held in the Colvard Student Union Foster Ballroom.

ORED announces cross-college grant recipientsA mini-grant program funded by the Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State is back for a second year after a productive launch to the program last fall. The 40 cross-college grants are bringing together researchers from around campus and across disciplines to foster collaboration.

Threadgill named interim 4-H leaderAn administrator with almost 20 years of experience as an Extension educator at Mississippi State University is serving as interim head of the Extension service's statewide youth program. Paula Threadgill will lead the Department of 4-H Youth Development, pending final approval.

Donaldson honored for researchThe Centers for Disease Control estimates that each year some 48 million Americans get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases. Research is the important first step in working to decrease these numbers, which is why Mississippi State faculty member Janet R. Donaldson is earning a prestigious award for her work with foodborne illness-causing bacteria.